Traffic control light



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M EL G. n. HEFNER ET Al.

TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHT Filed oct. 18, 1945 Patented Jan. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs 2,434,741 TRAFFIC coN'rRoL LIGHT George D. Hefner, Oak Park, and Albert C. Pramschiefer, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 18, 1945, Serial No. 623,104

8 Claims. (Cl. f77-329i The primary object of the present invention is l to provide a novel and improved flashlight type traffic control light having means embodied therein whereby the light may be changed from a red to a green light or vice versa by a simple manipulation of a manual control.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved traflic control light in which a diaphanous member is attached to a conventional nashlight, which member has its periphery surface divided into quarters or sectors so that the peripheral surface of the opposite sectors carry a red coloring and the opposite sectors of the periphery carry a green coloring, together with a revolvable shield which may alternately expose the red or green sectors of light as the occasion requires for controlling the traffic.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved traiiic control light in the form of a diaphanous cylindrical member attached to a conventional flashlight for exposing a red or green area in the member and having means embodied therein so that the light may penetrate through the diaphanous member so that the same may be used as a conventional flashlight.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and an arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a more or less conventional ashlight having my improved traffic control mechanism embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partly fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

In illustrating one form our invention may assume in practice, we have shown the same in connection with a more or less conventional form of flashlight, generally indicated by the reference character I0. The conventional flashlight I comprises briefly, a cylindrical casing I I in which a conventional battery is mounted, the usual switch I2 for controlling the light, a iiashlight bulb I3, a reector I4, a light bulb housing member I5 which is mounted in threaded engagement with the cylindrical casing II. The 4housing member I5 hasan outer threaded extension as shown at I6 on which is mounted in threaded engagement therewith, a threaded sleeve I1. The threaded sleeve Il has an inwardly extending flange as shown at I8 for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Embracing one end of the casing and a portion of the bulb housing is -a rubber sleeve, generally indicated by the reference' character I9. The other end of the flashlight I0 is also provided with a cap in the form of a rubber housing, generally indicated by the reference character 2U.

The novel feature of our invention includes a longitudinally extending cylindrical diaphanous member which is preferably of transparent plastic such as Lucite and is generally indicated by the reference character 2|. This member 2| has secured at its inner end a fabric or plastic collar 22. The collar 22 has anoutwardly projecting peripheral ange 23 which is adapted to be clamped between the flange I8 of the sleeve Il and outer end of the bulb housing I5 for securing the diaphanous member 2| to the flashlight I0. The diaphanous member is provided with four radially projecting recesses 25 which are spaced about the angular magnitude of the circular cross section at approximately ninety degrees apart. These recesses 25 extend substantially throughout the longitudinal length of the cylindrical member 2| and extend from a point spaced from the center' of the member to the periphery thereof. Mounted in the recesses 25 are longitudinally extending opaque division Walls or members 26, which in effect divide the cylindrical member 2| into four equal quarters or sectors as shown at 2l, 28, 29 and 30. The cylindrical surface of the diaphanous or Lucite member 2| has the opposite quadrant surfaces or sectors 2l and 29 colored in red, while the other4 quadrant surfaces or sectors 28 and 30 are colored in green. The division or partition walls 26.ar e preferably white or opaque in color so as to prevent the penetration of the coloring of the next adjacent quadrant into the adjoining one. Oscillatably mounted on the cylindrical member 2| is a plastic shield in the form of a sleeve, generally indicated by the referencel character 3 I. This sleeve is made of opaque material to prevent the penetration of light there- 0 55 through except through oppositely disposed and longitudinally extending substantially rectangular rpenings or windows 32. These windows 32 are in registering alignment on the diametral opposite portions of the cylindrical sleeve 3l and are so arranged that they may be manipulated or oscillated so as to expose the opposite green portions or sectors 28. and 30, while the opaque portion of the sleeve covers the opposite red sectors 2? and 29 as shown in Fig` 4 of the drawings in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

In order to lin-dt the oscillatory movement in manipulating the sleeve 3l in aligning the windows 32 with Athe colored sectors of the cylinder 2l a stop in the form of a pin or peg 33 is secured to the cylinder 2l and projects outwardly into a transverse slot 3d formed adjacent the inner end of the sleeve 3 l. It will be obvious, of course, that when one end of the slot 3ft engages the pin 33) the opposite windows 32 expose, for example, the opposite green sectors, while the opposite red sectors are covered. When the other end ofthe slot engages the pin, the red sectors are exposed and the green sectors are covered. To facilitate the manipulation of the cylindrical sleeve 3|, oppositely disposed and outwardly projecting lugs 35 are secured to the sleeve adjacent the inner end thereof for convenient engagement of the fingers for its manipulation. ^The sleeve 3l is maintained in position on the cylindrical diaphanous member 2! by a ring-like washer 35 which,` in turn, is securcd in place on the member 2 i by pins or nails 3l. Embracing the outer ends o'f the cylindrical member 2l is a removable rubber cap or bumper 38. Positioned within the recess of the cap and adapted to engage the end of the cylindrical member is a reector in the form of a white Washer 39.

Summarizing the function and method of operation of our improved signal control traffic light, it will be obvious that by providing a transparent cylindrical plastic member made preferably of Lucite and having the opposite quarter sections of the peripheral surfaces colored red with the remaining opposite quarter surfaces colored green and a'rotatable sleeve of opaque material having oppositely disposed windows to register with respect to the colored surfaces on the cylindrical member, the sleeve may, therefore, be located in registering position to disclose a green or a red light at the option of the operator. In this connection it will be also obvious that because of the fact that the cylindrical member is A diaphanous, the cap 38 may be removed therefrom so that the light may be used as an ordinary flashlight when so desired. It will also be noted that when the cap 38 is replaced, the reflector 39 mounted in the cap reects the light into the cylindrical member to give a greater glow for illuminating the cylinder for traffic control purposes. It willv also be noted that the pin or stop 3311s arranged to engage the ends of the slot 34 in the sleeve 3l so as to limit the rotation of the sleeve in registering positions with the respective colored sections cf the cylinder member 2l. It will be further noted that the division Walls 2S are made of opaque material so as to divide the colored sections from one another, but do not, however, impair the penetration of the light from the bulb I3 throughout the diaphanous member 2l.

From the above description it Will be readily seen that we have provided anovel, simple and improved construction of traiiic `control light whereby upon a simple manipulation of rotating the sleeve, the light may be changed from red signallight to a green'signal light or vice versa for controlling traillc. A

'While in the above specincatlon we have described one embodiment which our invention may assume in practice, it will, of course. be understood that the same is capable of modication and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as cirpressed in the following claims.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A traiiic control light comprising a cylindrical casing, a light bulb mounted in said casing, a diaphanous member mounted on one end of said casing, said member having opposite peripheral sectors colored, certain of said sectors being of diierent colors and means embracing said member having opposite openings therein for exposing certain of the sectors of said member.

2.A traiiic control light comprising a cylindrical casing, a light bulb mounted in said casing, a diaphanous member mounted on one end ofV said casing, said member having opposite peripheral sectorsof the same color, certain opposite sectors being of a different color than certain other opposite sectors and an opaque sleeve embracing said member having opposite openings therein to permit the light to be exposed therethrough.

3. A traiiic control light comprising a cylindrical casing, a light bulb mounted in said casing, a diaphanous member mounted on one end of said casing, said member having opposite peripheral sectors colored, certain of said sectofs being of diierent colors and a rotatable s leeve mounted on said member 'having oppositely disposed openings therein to register with the colored sectors of said member whereby certain o'f said sectors are covered and certain other of said sectors are exposed.

4. A traine control light comprising a cylindrical casing, a light bulb mounted in said casing, a diaphanous member mounted on Vone end of said casing, said member having opposite peripheral sectors colored, certain of said sectors being of dilerent colors a rotatable sleeve journaled on said member, there being substantially rectangular windows extending longitudinally and on the opposite sides thereof and means carried by said member and engageable with said sleeve for limiting the rotation of said 'sleeve with respect to said member.

5 A trailic light control comprising a casing, a light bulb mounted in one end of said casing, a diaphanous cylindrical member secured to said casing and extending from said bulb, radially projecting division Walls mounted in said member dividing the periphery thereof into four sectors, certain of said sectors being colored diierently than certain other of said sectors the opposite sectors carrying the same signal color, and means mounted in said member whereby certain opposite sectors may be exposed while the remaining sectors may be covered.

V6. A trailie light control comprising a casing, a light bulb mounted in one end of said casing, a diaphanous cylindrical member secured to said ,casing and extending from said bulb, radially projecting division walls mounted in said member dividing the periphery thereof into a plurality of differently colored sectors, the opposite sectors carrying the same signal color, and a movable member embracing said diaphanous member having openings therein whereby certain opposite ensue:

sectors may be exposed While the remaining see- `a diaplianous cylindrical member secured to `said casing and extending from said bulb, radially pro-l jecting division Walls mounted in said member dividing the periphery thereof into a' plurality of colored sectors, the opposite sectors carrying the same signal color, an oscillatable sleeve journaled on said member having `Windows therein adapted to register with certain of said opposite colored sectors, and a stop carried by said member and engageable with said sleeve for registering said Windows with said coloredl sectors.

8. A traic light control comprising a casing,

a light bulb mounted in one end of said casing, a

diaphanous cylindrical member secured to said casing and extending from said bulb, radially projecting division Walls mounted in said member dividing the periphery thereof into two pairs of opposite sectors, each pair of sectors being colored diiierently. an oscillatable sleeve journaled on `said member having windows therein adapted to register 'with certain of said opposite colored sectors, a stop carried by said member and engageable with said sleeve for registering said windows with said colored sectors, a removable cap mounted on one end oi said member, and a reiiector mounted in .said cap for reflecting the light in said member.

GEORGE D. HEFNER.

4AUBER'I C. PRAMSCHIEFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references `are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,362,131 Haggart Nov. 7, 1944 

